On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Eyewitness News reported that a special court of review in Austin is deliberating whether to uphold a public reprimand issued against Harris County District Judge Natalia Cornelio. The reprimand, handed down by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct last year, stems from Cornelio’s handling of a death row inmate’s case.
Cornelio, who presides over the 351st District Court, is appealing the reprimand. Her attorney, Derek Hollingsworth, argues that the stakes are high, emphasizing the potential impact on her reputation. Hollingsworth, along with partner Andy Drumheller, contends that a public reprimand is a significant ordeal for any judge.
The case revolves around Ronald Haskell, a death row inmate convicted of the 2014 mass murder of six members of his ex-wife’s family. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded that Cornelio demonstrated bias in favor of Haskell when she signed a “secret” bench warrant authorizing his transfer to Harris County for an MRI. The warrant contained false information about a nonexistent midnight hearing, and prosecutors claimed they were unaware of the transfer until the victims’ family was notified.
During a two-day hearing, the review panel, comprised of three justices, raised concerns about the impact of the transfer on the victims’ family. Martin Cohick of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, tasked with defending the reprimand, accused Cornelio of “playing fast and loose with a killer” and called her actions “flagrant and shameful.”
Cornelio’s legal team countered that she interpreted the law in good faith, even if her interpretation was mistaken. Cornelio testified in her own defense, and witnesses stated that ex parte requests are not unusual in death penalty cases. They added that staff often rely on standard bench warrant templates.
Hollingsworth told ABC13 that the reprimand could affect her ability to win future elections and have lasting financial consequences. “The real consequence is it won’t allow her to be a visiting judge after retirement, which is sort of a financial problem,” Hollingsworth said. Visiting judges earn nearly $700 a day.
Cornelio was removed from the Haskell appeal after the controversy became public but before the reprimand was issued. Her current term runs through 2028.
The special court of review is expected to issue its ruling within the next couple of months. Overturning a public reprimand is rare. An online search shows it has happened only twice since 2010.
Source: Eyewitness News
